Basketball

Star frustrates NLEX to make 3rd straight semis this season

Paul Lintag on Sep 26, 2017 09:20 PM

No. 4 Star limited NLEX to only 14 points in the final 12 minutes and the Hotshots became the first team to advance to the semifinals of the season-ending conference.

Star's vaunted defense strikes again.

The Hotshots practically suffocated the NLEX Road Warriors in the fourth quarter of their Governors' Cup quarterfinals matchup, scoring a big 89-77 win Tuesday at the MOA Arena.

No. 4 Star limited NLEX to only 14 points in the final 12 minutes and the Hotshots became the first team to advance to the semifinals of the season-ending conference.

Star will now wait for the winner of the Meralco-Blackwater showdown.

Import Kris Acox stepped up in the end game for the Hotshots after he almost signgle-handedly matched NLEX's output in the fourth. Acox fired 10 points for Star in the payoff period, playing his best game for the team since he replaced Malcolm Hill.

Acox finished with a total of 21 points on top of 12 rebounds and three assists. Paul Lee added 18 points, 10 of them also coming in the fourth.